2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 284 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328770.
Campaign 21V051000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
284 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Mar 27, 2018
I HAVE A CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD JUST ABOVE THE AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT DUE TO HEAT OR SUN THIS HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER IN ALASKA
Structure, Mar 9, 2018
DASH PAD HAS CRACKS IN IT. IF AIR BAGS WERE TO BE DEPLOYED PIECES OF DASH COULD BECOME PROJECTILES. DON'T KNOW WHEN IT CRACKED. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS WALKING AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY TRUCK SITS IN A GARAGE. IT ONLY HAS 60000 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2011.
Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2018
DASHBOARD CRACKED FROM PASSENGER AIRBAG TO FRONT EDGE OF PANEL. VEHICLE STATIONARY AND NOT RUNNING WHEN CRACK OCCURRED.
Other or unspecified, Feb 20, 2018
DASH STARTED WITH 2 INITIAL CRACKS ONE AT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE OTHER AT THE BASE OF THE DRIVER SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLOSER TO THE WINDOW. AS TIME WENT ON THE CRACK OF THE DRIVER SIDE PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT NOW IT HAS TRAVELED TO END OF THE PANEL ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND ANOTHER CRACK HAS DEVELOPED NOW AT THE OTHER END OF THE AIR BAG.
Air bags, Feb 9, 2018
THE COMMON DASH CRACK IN MY 2012 SILVERADO WITH ONLY 40K MILES. I HAD A SUNROOF INSTALLED TO LET THE HEAT OUT AND MY TRUCK IS CLEARLY STORED IN A GARAGE AND THE TRUCKS DASH STILL CRACKED. ITS SO BAD THE DASH RATTLES WHEN DRIVING AND IM WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PLASTIC USED ON THE DASH THAT WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYS, THAT THE DASH WILL TURN INTO SHARP SHARDS OF PLASTIC HEADED TOWARDS MY PASSENGERS AND I. I NEVER EXPECTED SUCK A WELL TAKEN CARE OF VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILES TO HAVE A CRACKED DASH AND [XXX] SURE NOT A GM PRODUCT. TOYOTA HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT THEY FIXED THERE ISSUE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Suspension, Feb 7, 2018
THE STEEL IN THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS SUDDENLY BROKE IN HALF (UNDER NO LOAD). IT HAPPENED TWICE - IN THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS IN ~2016 (~3 YEARS OF AGE), AND AGAIN IN THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRINGS LAST WEEK (2018). THIS IS NOT EVEN A MECHANICAL DEVICE - JUST A PASSIVE HEAVY GAUGE PIECE OF STEEL. THE VEHICLE IS VERY LIGHT USE, AND IN BOTH CASES THERE WAS NO PAYLOAD IN THE FLATBED. GM APPEARS TO BE USING A SUBSTANDARD GRADE OF STEEL IN CRITICAL AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED WHEN THE SPRINGS BROKE, AND I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM IF DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE STEEL ROD THAT CONNECTS THE INNER DRIVER DOOR HANDLE TO THE DOOR LOCK, ALSO SNAPPED (SO YOU CAN NOT EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE CONTROLS). IT APPEARS THAT GM IS USING A CHEAP SUBSTANDARD GRADE OF STEEL IN THEIR VEHICLES. ESTIMATED DATE OF FIRST EVENT BELOW. *JS
Engine, Jan 30, 2018
IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, MOTOR LOOSES OIL PRESSURE. OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND RELATED FILTER ALREADY CHANGED ONCE, FAILING AGAIN.
Other or unspecified, Jan 29, 2018
CRACKED DASHBOARD AROUND PASSANGER AIR BAG
Structure, Jan 28, 2018
EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ARE CHEAP PLASTIC, SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE WILL BE UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR IN EMERGENCY.
Air bags, Dec 29, 2017
MY AIR BAD LIGHT IS ON AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON MY TRUCK. SHE THEN TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE MY TRUCK IN TO SEE IF IT HAS A RECALL. I ASK HER WHICH IS IT, IS THERE A RECALL OR NOT? SHE SAID NO RECALL BUT I HAD TO GO INTO SERVICE TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL. THERE EITHER IS IT ISN'T. I FEEL GM IS TRYING TO COVER THIER BUTTS. SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY KNOW OF A PROBLEM BUT DON'T WANT TO GO PUBLIC WITH IT. I'M A 100% DISABLED VETERAN. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW 5 YEARS AGO, I ONLY HAVE 55K MILES ON MY TRUCK. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK ESPECIALLY IF GM KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO OWN UP TO THIER MISTAKE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 22, 2017
LIGHTS GO DIM ON IT ALL THE TIME AND THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IN IT IS BAD SOMETIMES THE AIR CONDITION WORKS MOST OF THE TIME IT DON'T AND THE CRUISE QUIT WORKING IN IT
Power train, Nov 29, 2017
TRANSMISSION---TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. WILL NOT GO FORWARD WENT PUT INTO DRIVE. HAS FLUID. WILL GO INTO REVERSE. PULLED OUT OF DRIVE-WAY TO GO TO THE STORE . WENT TO A STOP SIGN AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE . HAD TO PUSH IT BACK HOME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JS
Air bags, Nov 19, 2017
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION 5 PMH AIRBAG ON DRIVER SIDE BECOMES HOT N COOLS OFF WHEN WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, CAN YOU FIX THIS ISSUE, IT'S DOESN'T SHOW THAT IT'S RECALL BUT I FEEL UN SAFE TO DRIVE IT, MY DEALER SAYS IT'S NOT ON YOUR RECALL LIST, PLS ADVISE ME THEY TOLD ME IT'S A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Oct 26, 2017
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND IT BLINKS ON AND OFF EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURN ON IN MOTION AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL IT'S PARK
Wheels, Oct 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR ALUMINUM WHEELS CRACKED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (RANCHO MOTOR COMPANY, VICTORVILLE, CA, 760-955-8200) AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2017
DASH IS CRACKED WITH SHARP EDGES CLOSE TO THE DEFROSTER VENTS AND NEXT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. CRACKED ON ITS OWN, NO ACCIDENT. TRUCK IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
Other or unspecified, Sep 5, 2017
DASH HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES AROUND AIR BAGS
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 15, 2017
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STABLITRAK TURNED OFF. LIGHTS CAME ON, ON THE DASH SAYING SERVICE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. TURNED TRUCK OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON. USUALLY COMES ON WHEN NORMAL BRAKING (NOT HARD) YOU CAN FEEL THE ABS LOCK UP AND THE LIGHTS COME ON SAYING TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF AND ABS IS OFF. SOME DAYS THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS YOU START THE TRUCK IN THE MORNING AND SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL. NEVER HAD THE TRUCK OFF ROAD, ON ROAD USE ONLY, TRUCK IS STOCK AND HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED YET. I WASH THE TRUCK EVERY 2 WEEKS, AND THE TRUCK ONLY HAD ABOUT 38XXX MILES ON IT WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND STILL IS HAPPENING. THE DATE REPORTED WAS AN ESTIMATE SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE TRUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE MONTHS
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2017
CRACKED DASHBOARD AT PASSENGER AIRBAG CAUSING A POTENTIAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUE. I NOTICED THIS WHILE CLEANING SAID DASHBOARD. NO ITEMS WERE EVER STORED ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP QUOTES $1250 TO REPAIR SAME.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2017
THE DASH IS CRACKED
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 13, 2017
STABILITRAC LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL AND ALSO CRACKED DASH BOARD RIGHT BY PASSENGER AIRBAG. DASH CRACKED 2 WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT TRUCK
Engine, Jun 6, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (PUNENTE HILLS CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 17300 E GALE AVE CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748 888-202-3593) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE COVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,099.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2017
THE DASHBOARD CRACKING BY THE AIR BAG AND ABOVE THE GAUGE CLUSTER, IF AIR BAG COMES OUT AFRAID FOR FAMILY FOR FLYING PLASTIC PIECES NOTICED ONE WHILE GETTING IN TRUCK ONLY HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT AIR BAG LEFT FORWARD CORNER BEEN LIKE THAT FOR YEAR NOW NOTICED RIGHT SIDE CORNER AND THE ABOVE THE DASH LAST WEEKEND 5/20/17
Engine, Apr 18, 2017
ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND ENGINE WOULD NOT BE OPERATING PROPERLY.APEARED TO BE MISFIRING. IT WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES AND DIAGNOSED WITH CYLINDER MISFIRE OIL FOULED SPARK PLUG EACH TIME. PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL WE WERE INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED IT WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP WERE UNHELPFUL AND DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING FOR THIS MODEL AND TYPE ENGINE WITH OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2017
CRACKING DASHBOARD.